Laboratory diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. Prospective study of 85 patients.
AUTOR(ES)
Bayliss, C E
RESUMO
Because early diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis is difficult increasingly important, we have assessed the value of laboratory investigation in 85 patients with knee effusions studied from presentation and followed for sufficiently long periods to allow a definite diagnosis. Histopathology on needle biopsy specimens narrowed the differential diagnosis to rheumatoid arthritis and closely related conditions even at an early stage of disease and also allowed recognition of other conditions which would not otherwise have been detected. Immunofluorescence on similar specimens further narrowed differential diagnosis since the presence of IgM was found to be very suggestive of rheumatoid arthritis. Other tests were of less value. It is concluded that laboratory investigation can improve diagnostic sensitivity and specificity in relatively early rheumatoid arthritis.
ACESSO AO ARTIGO
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1006439Documentos Relacionados
- Mortality and survival in rheumatoid arthritis: a 25 year prospective study of 100 patients.
- Cause and age at death in a prospective study of 100 patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
- Prospective study of early rheumatoid arthritis. I. Prognostic value of IgA rheumatoid factor.
- Intra-articular methotrexate. Clinical and laboratory study in rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis.
- Prospective study of early rheumatoid arthritis. II. Association of rheumatoid factor isotypes with fluctuations in disease activity.